LP to finalize VP, Senate bets tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - The ruling Liberal Party (LP) plans to pick its vice presidential candidate and finalize its Senate slate tomorrow.

LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II presided over a meeting of LP leaders yesterday afternoon at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City to discuss the matter.

Various LP regional chapters, including those from Luzon, Metro Manila and Mindanao, have issued their respective nominations for Roxas as the party’s presidential candidate and Sens. Franklin Drilon, Teofisto Guingona III and Ralph Recto and former senator Francisco Pangilinan as among their senatorial bets.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Joel Villanueva are also expected to be in the LP’s senatorial ticket.

An LP lawmaker said the tandem of Roxas and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo appears to be a done deal, but there are those still pushing for Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to be Roxas’ running mate.

“There are pros and cons to having either Sen. Alan or Leni Robredo as Mar’s vice presidential candidate,” the party stalwart said.

Another LP lawmaker said it is easier to campaign for Cayetano – who vowed to run for vice president with or without a presidential candidate, adding that his low rating in surveys can still improve in the coming months.

LP sources said it would be unfair to pressure Robredo to run as Roxas’ vice president if it would affect her family. Robredo said her family’s stand would weigh heavily in her decision.

The choice between Cayetano and Robredo rests on President Aquino and Roxas, sources added.

Former energy chief Jericho Petilla, former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, former Pampanga governor Mark Lapid, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and world boxing idol and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao are also being considered for LP’s senatorial ticket.

LP sources said Aquino and Roxas spoke with Villanueva recently to convince him to stay with the administration. The TESDA chief earlier said he does not want to run with De Lima, who had filed charges against him in connection with the pork barrel scam.

 “It’s hard for me to leave the President,” the source quoted Villanueva as saying after meeting Aquino in Malacañang.

LP sources said Aquino was neutral about Pacquiao, who is a member of the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Roxas’ allies in the House of Representatives have been wooing Pacquiao to join the administration ticket.

Aquino, sources said, was also ambivalent about Hontiveros, who enjoys the support of certain factions in the administration but who has been rating poorly in surveys. She also ran but lost in the senatorial elections in 2010 and 2013.

Up to Roxas

If the LP fails to come up with a final list before its convention on Sept. 30, it is possible party leaders would just manifest they are leaving it up to Roxas and Aquino to announce the party’s vice presidential and senatorial candidates.

“With time running out and still many people to consult, it’s likely that party members will just give the (LP) national executive council (NECO) a free hand to decide,” a senior LP lawmaker said.

Aquino will preside over the NECO meeting at the LP headquarters on Monday morning.    – With Marvin Sy